Master Huanmin

Zen Master Huanmin (in the Northern Song Dynasty), whose secular surname was Ye, was from Yushan in Xinyang City. He had had the aspiration to become a Buddhist monk since he was little. With the permission from his parents, he followed Master Xingqin and became a Buddhist monk in Xingjiao Temple. After receiving the Buddhist precepts, he travelled all over the country seeking for Buddha Dharma. In the 8th year of Qingli period (1048 AD) of the Song Dynasty, he visited Zen Master Huiming in Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, and formally acknowledged him as his master. He learned all of what Zen Master Huiming knew about Buddhism and tended to various temple affairs. Later Zen Master Huiming named him as the monastic manger. Before long, the temple caught fire and was in ruins. In less than a decade, Zen Master Huanmin rebuilt it after Zen Master Huimin passed away. Zen Master Huanmin had first lived in Shangtianzhu before he served as the abbot of Lingyin Temple. Peaceful and merciful, Zen Master Huanmin was highly praised by people. In the early winter of the 4th year of Jiayou period (1059 AD), Zen Master Huanmin stayed sick in bed with an ailment. The day before he passed away, he had made arrangements about the temple affairs and breathed his last breath after checking the time, dedicating 41 years to monkhood out of his 61 years of life. During his lifetime, Zen Master Huanmin was granted by the imperial court as Master Puci and after his death, an eminent monk named Qisong put up a tablet and crafted “Inscription in memory of Master Puci in Lingyin”.